Cleaning device



H. W. HUNTER CLEANING DEVICE May 5, 193%.

Filed Dec. 10, 1934 Z72 067221 07". \/5 fie ier Via Ju e? jt'torwggfi Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in mops or cleaning devices and has for one purpose the provision of a mop or cleaner which shall be simple in operation, and convenient in use. Another object is the provision of a mop with which may be employed a refill element or elements for use, whereby the cleaning element of the mop may readily be renewed. Another object is the provision of a removable or refill element for such a mop. Another object is the provision of improved and simplified means for applying a removable refill to a mop holder and for holding it in position when applied. Another object is the provision of improved handle means for such a mop holder. Another object is the provision of an improved refill for such a mop holder. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, wherein-- Figure 1 is a'front elevation with parts in section;

Figure 2 is a section on the line '22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the mop holder proper with the refill and handle removed; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Y Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawing.

Referring to the drawing, I generally indicates a unitary mop holding member, herein shown as of sheet metal which includes a tubular shank, 2, a channel member 3, herein shown as approximately semi-circular in cross-section and lying below and at right angles to the shank 2. It may be connected thereto by the flange or web 4. 5 indicates any suitable spring structure. It will be understood that I may employ spring stock or its equivalent for the entire member and the springs 5 may then be formed'integrally with the above described parts. I illustrate, however, a single spring member passing through apertures 6 adjacent the bottom of the shank 2 and having turned ends 1 adapted to engage the mop as shown, for example, in Figure 3.

As a refill member or mop member, I illustrate a roll ID, of any suitable material, for example,

paper or fiber, which is shown as rolled about a tubular core ll. Under some circumstances and with some materials this tubular core may be omitted but in other circumstances, as with relatively soft or thin 'fiber rolls, it may be advantageous. The roll thus formed is provided with a slit generally indicated as l2 which extends in parallelism with the axis of the roll, and preferably at one side only thereof. This slit increases radially outwardly in Width, as will be clear from Figure 2, in order to permit the ready insertion of the member 3 therethrough. In use, the member 3 is inserted through the slit into the interior of the roll l0, taking the position in which it is shown in Figure 2. An inner core or looking member l may then be inserted end- Wise through the open end of the tube. This core I4 conforms quite closely to the interior diameter of the member 3. In turn, the exterior diameter of the member 3 may conform quite closely to the interior of the tube II. In use there will'be sufficient play or tolerance to permit an easy insertion of the core I4, but the parts are preferably sufficiently close in their tolerances to prevent an unintended removal or shaking out of the core 14. As the member 3 is inserted through the slot l2 into the position in which it is shown in Figure 2, the ends I of the spring 5 abut against the exterior of the roll Ill and the spring is flexed until it takes the position shown in Figure 3. The spring therefore, serves as a holding means for preventing unintended relative movement of any of the parts and also for holding the loose edge l5 of the roll down against the rest'of the roll. Thus the roll cannot become unrolled, but the pressure of the spring is insuflicient to prevent the operator from readily withdrawing the edge l5 of the roll and taking off one layer of the exterior of the roll when it is desired to renew the exterior surface of the roll.

In order to provide a ready and easily shipped handle means for my mop I may employ three hollow tubes, paper or the like, indicated as 20, 2i and 22. These maybe of paper, fiber or the like and may be of the same length and are prefera-bly of the same exterior and interior diameter. In order to assemble the handle I illustrate two plugs, 23, 2 which may be of wood and which conform closely to the interior of the tubes 20, 2| and 22, sufficiently closely so that a certain amount of pressure is necessary for assembly and so that the handle will not become unintentionally disconnected. The tubular shank 2 of the mop holder is preferably about the same diameter as one of 5 the plugs 23 and it maybe plugged into the end of the tube 20. It is shown as split and preferably has enough spring so that it will rather solidly hold its relationship to the tube 20 so that the parts will not-become readily disassembled. Thus 55 I provide a mop assembly in which the parts are light and easily packed and shipped but which may be assembled tomake a stout, practical and usable mop.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

I claim:

1. In a cleaning element, a roll of cleaning ma terial containing a longitudinally elongated transverse aperture penetrating the roll from outside to inside of the roll, the longitudinal extension of the aperture, in parallelism with the axis of the roll, being substantially greater than its width.

2. In a cleaning element, a roll of cleaning material containing a longitudinally elongated transverse aperture penetrating the roll from outside to inside of the roll, the longitudinal extension of the aperture, in parallelism with the axis of the roll, being substantially greater than its width, said aperture increasing in width radially outwardly from the inside to the outside of the roll.

3. In a, cleaning element, a roll of cleaning material containing a closed ended longitudinally elongated transverse aperture penetrating the roll from outside to inside of the roll, the longitudinal extension of the aperture, in parallelism with the axis of the roll, being substantially greater than its width.

4. In a cleaning device, a hollow, open ended roll of cleaning material having a transverse aperture penetrating from outside to inside of the roll, a roll support adapted to penetrate said aperture and including a portion adapted to be positioned within the hollow of said roll, and a core member adapted to be inserted through the end of i said roll and adapted to engage said support and to hold it substantially fixed in relation to said roll, said core member having a substantially cylindrical exterior, said roll support including a portion conforming closely to the exterior of said core member, and to the interior of said roll, said roll support being of a length not greater than the longitudinal extension of the transverse aperture in the roll through which it penetrates.

5. In a cleaning device, a roll of cleaning material having a transverse aperture penetrating from'outside to inside of the roll, a roll support adapted to penetrate said aperture, and including a semi-cylindrical concavo-convex portion adapted to be positioned within the hollow of said roll, with its convex face opposed to the interior of said roll, and a generally cylindrical core member adapted to be inserted through the end of the roll and adapted to engage and conform to the concave face of said support, and to hold said support substantially fixed in relation to said roll, said roll support being of a length not greater than the longitudinal extension of the transverse aperture in the roll through which it penetrates.

6. In a cleaning device, a roll of cleaning material having a transverse aperture penetrating from outside to inside of the roll, a roll support adapted to penetrate said aperture, and including a semi-cylindrical concavo-convex portion adapted to be positioned within the hollow of said roll, with its convex face opposed to the interior of said roll, and a generally cylindrical core member adapted to be inserted through the end of the roll and adapted to engage and conform to the concave face of said support, and to hold said support substantially fixed in relation to said roll, and spring means, associated with said roll support, adapted to engage the exterior of the roll and to prevent it from unrolling, said roll support being of a length not greater than the longitudinal extension of the transverse aperture in the roll through which it penetrates.

7. In a cleaning device, a roll of cleaning material having a transverse aperture penetrating from outside to inside of the roll, a roll support adapted to penetrate said aperture, and including a semi-cylindrical concavo-convex portion adapted to be positioned within the hollow of said roll, with its convex face opposed to the interior of said roll, and a generally cylindrical core member adapted to be inserted through the end of the roll and adapted to engage and conform to the concave face of said support, and to hold said support substantially fixed in relation to said roll, and leaf spring means, associated with said roll support, adapted to engage the exterior of the roll and to prevent it from unrolling, said roll support being of a length not greater than the longitudinal extension of the transverse aperture in the roll through which it penetrates.

8. In a cleaning element, a cylinder of cleaning material containing a longitudinally elongated transverse aperture penetrating the cylin- I der'from outside to inside of the cylinder, the

longitudinal extension of the aperture, in parallelism with the axis of the cylinder, being substantially greater than its width.

9. In a cleaning device, a hollow, open ended roll of cleaning material having a transverse aperture penetrating from outside to inside of the roll, a roll support adapted to penetrate said aperture and including a portion adapted to be positioned within the hollow of said roll, and a,

core member adapted to be inserted through the end of said roll and adapted to engage said support and to hold it substantially fixed in relation to said roll, said roll support including a portion conforming closely to the exterior of said core member, and to the interior of said roll, said roll support being of a length not greater than the longitudinal extension of the transverse aperture in the roll through which it penetrates.

10. In a cleaning device, a roll of cleaning material having a transverse aperture penetrating from outside to inside of the roll, a roll'support adapted to penetrate said aperture, and including a concavo-convex portion adapted to be positioned within the hollow of said roll, with its convex face opposed to the interior of said roll, and a core member adapted to be inserted through the end of the roll and adapted to engage and conform to the concave face of said support, and to hold said support substantially fixed in relation to said roll, said roll support being of a length not greater than the longitudinal extension of the transverse aperture in the roll through which it penetrates.

11. In a cleaning device, a roll of cleaning material having a transverse aperture penetrating from outside to inside of the roll, a roll support adapted to penetrate said aperture, and including a concavo-convex portion adapted to be positioned within the hollow of said roll, with its convex face opposed to the interior of said roll, and a core member adapted to be inserted through the end of the roll and adapted to en,- gage and conform to the concave face of said support, and to hold said support substantially fixed in relation to said roll, and spring means, associated with said roll support, adapted to engage the exterior of the roll and to prevent it from unrolling, said roll support being of a length not greater than the longitudinal extension of the transverse aperture in the roll through which it penetrates.

12. In a cleaning device, a cleaner support including a body portion, a core engaging member associated with said body portion, an elongated core longitudinally slidable in relation to said core engaging member transversely with respect to said body portion, a roll surrounding said core and core engaging member, said roll being apertured intermediate its ends to admit said core engaging member, and unitary means for holding said roll from unrolling and for normally holding said core against longitudinal sliding movement in relation to said core engaging member, including spring means mounted upon said body and operatively engaging said roll.

13. In a cleaning device, a cleaner support including a body portion, a core engaging member associated with said body portion, an elongated core longitudinally slidable laterally in relation to said core engaging member, a roll surrounding said core, and unitary means for holding said roll from unrolling and for normally holding said core against longitudinal sliding movement in relation to said core engaging member, including a leaf spring mounted between its ends upon said body, the ends of said spring being opposed to and operatively engaging portions of said roll on opposite sides of said body.

14. In a cleaning device, a cleaner support including a body portion, a core engaging member associated with said body portion, a core longitudinally slidable laterally in relation to said core engaging member, a roll surrounding said core and core engaging member, and unitary means for holding said roll from unrolling and for normally holding said core against longitudinal sliding movement in relation to said core engaging member, including a leaf spring passing through said body and operatively engaging said roll, said body being apertured to receive it.

15. In a cleaning device, a cleaner support including a body portion, a core engaging member associated with said body portion, a core longitudinally slidable laterally in relation to said core engaging member, a roll surrounding said core and core engaging member, and unitary means associated with the body portion for holding said roll from unrolling and for normally holding said core against longitudinal sliding movement in relation to said core engaging member, including a leaf spring passing through said body, said body being apertured to receive it, the ends of said spring being opposed to portions of said roll on opposite sides of said body.

HESTER W. HUNTER. 

